Terrible Rain!! What to do? Help!

[GeneralTso]

Just do your best to have a good time. I'm going to say though--honestly, it SUCKS when it rains like that when you are on vacation.
It's Orlando though, so to be expected. There are lots of things to do that are indoors, but I realize it is nothing close to being in the parks.
Being cold and soggy, or HOT and soggy is miserable. Everybody tries to make the best of it, lots of $$$ involved in getting your family there, etc.

All that stuff about "empty" parks doesn't do it for me. I just want it to stop raining. I feel you. It's rough.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Check the weather, plan ahead, don't wear cotton if there is any chance you will get wet.

 

[Sierra024]

We leave next week and until reading ur post u hadn't checked the weather. I get the whole trudge on theory but not sure my kids would be up for getting soaked. I'm thinking packing ponchos and a pair of flip flops in a back pack might be a good idea... Wet shoes to me is the worst feeling. Have u gone to Disney quest yet? I've never been but we plan to go I think it's an indoor activity. I'll be hoping the weather gets better for u!

 

[Lesverts]

You enjoy the empty parks!

One of the best days we had was caused by a hurricane which brought tons of rain to orlando. The parks were open and we walked on to every ride and every meet and greet. We had a durable stroller cover and ponchos on.
IMO you never leave, you wave bye to everyone else while singing in the rain!

The tropical storm last June was my favourite day in a Disney park. We got to Orlando around 2 that day, had dinner and was in the park by 8 for a 11pm close. In those 3 hours I managed to ride everything from Jungle Cruise to 7DMT (twice because the CM was calling people into the line for one last ride). I had so much fun, people were having a great time, the CM were all in good moods. It was magical.

 

[Minniekins]

Check the weather, plan ahead, don't wear cotton if there is any chance you will get wet.

Okay, sorry this will sound dumb maybe, but don't wear cotton much I guess. Why don't wear cotton if we might get wet? TIA!

We are going for our first summer trip in August as DD26 now works in a school, so for a long week trip it's gotta be summer. Ugh! Horrible heat and humidity! So, I'm hoping and praying for an unusual stretch of weather for Aug 5-12 with lower humidity and temp, and a nice dry stretch! Well, I can always dream, you never know when that will happen - maybe just in time for my trip!

 

[BigredNole]

If it is rain, put on a poncho and have fun while everyone else frantically scurries away. If there is lightning with it, then that is a different story. Thunderstorms are a part of FL for 6+ months out of the year. Heat + humidity + Gulf breezes = Thunderstorms. Some last 5 minutes, some last hours. Since you can't control the weather, it is best just to smile and do what you can.

 

[MrsDuck]

I agree with the above...


Wear rain ponchos, put a smile on your face and keep going!

Yep! Works every time!

 

[Surgie2]

Why don't wear cotton if we might get wet?

Cotton takes a long time to dry out. It will just feel clingy and wet if you get caught in a downpour. If there is a chance of rain, it is better to wear a quick dry type fabric such as the Under Armor shirts or any number of Dri-Fit or Performance shirts. You can find them in the sporting apparel section of any store...Target, Kohls, sports stores, etc.

 

[Spridell]

Actually here in Florida the next 10 days we will be in a very rare weather pattern.

System in the Gulf is stationary and will give most of Florida lots of clouds and rain the next 10 days. NOT steady all day rain but on and off clouds and showers and storms and not much sun at all the next 10 days.

 

[trvlgirlmq]

In the same boat. I am not happy about the weather for the 1 vacation I will have this year. I hate rain, I don't like being wet and I am already spending thousands of dollars on this vacation and my budget does not run to adding extra paid for indoor attractions. We may be spending a lot of time watching TV in the room. I don't plan to put a smile on my face while my vacation is, in my opinion, ruined.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Okay, sorry this will sound dumb maybe, but don't wear cotton much I guess. Why don't wear cotton if we might get wet? TIA!

Cotton holds any moisture -- whether from rain or sweat -- against your skin and robs your body of heat. You might think that's a good thing in summer but it's not.

How to hike in the rain

 

[SimonSez]

This weather is a 180 from the super dry conditions that have persisted for awhile now. Right now I despise the rain because where I live we've had a very wet spring so far. Although I don't mind an afternoon shower at WDW cause it does cool things down a bit, but constant and persistent rains can get on ones (my) nerves especially now with my crappy bad weather fatigue going on. Bring on the the ponchos is all I can say I wish there was an emoji wearing a poncho!

 

[bumbershoot]

You should expect a thunderstorm every day from June through September. That's just Florida weather.

Yep.

It's a reason we haven't gone to wdw during those months. I remember well visiting my family during college (mom remarried and moved to Miami as I left for college) and every single day for an hour it just poured.

Same thing as you do at home. Dress appropriately and do what you planned to do. Maybe a bit more indoors.

Back home you also dont cancel all your plans due to weather. You adapt to it.

Well I do have to say...Florida rain isn't something everyone gets. Thunderstorms aren't normal for every region. If there's a thunderstorm at home I cower indoors.

Some people just 'soldier' on - not us. We 'will' not slosh around in the rain, no matter how empty the parks.

In the same boat. I am not happy about the weather for the 1 vacation I will have this year. I hate rain, I don't like being wet and I am already spending thousands of dollars on this vacation and my budget does not run to adding extra paid for indoor attractions. We may be spending a lot of time watching TV in the room. I don't plan to put a smile on my face while my vacation is, in my opinion, ruined.

For both you and north of mouse, this is a decision you are making. You could do what others do and just figure it out and be happy. This is weather. It's weather that can be expected. It's weather that is talked about. Even if the soecicifs of the system are somewhat odd like someone mentioned above, people here have talked about oddities in weather and what to do for forever, like the nasty cold snaps in Dec, Jan, and Feb. Or May a few years ago when people thought it was never going to stop raining. Or this drought where all fires were banned, which is rotten for campers and those wanting to do the s'mores activities.

Unless there's a hurricane centered over Orlando you have choices. And I say this as a whiny person who resists change, but whose first Orlando trip was in December 2010 with a cold snap that hit nearly a week into it (the weather channel didn't anticipate it so we had not packed correctly and were budgeted to the bone and couldn't buy much to help). The one day we sat in the hotel and moped was rotten. And we did it to ourselves. People all around us were putting on their grownup hats and just getting on with it and being happy, but not us. Even the day we rode Flight of the Hippogriff 14 times in a row (thanks, kid) when the weather was in the 20s that early morning (brrr) was better than sitting around the lobby. And I promise I don't ride roller coasters at home when it's that cold lol.

 

[cindyfan]

Last fall when DD and I got caught in World Showcase during a huge rain storm..... it ended up the best day!! The place cleared out from alot of people heading up to Future World and the indoor attractions or they just left the park altogether. We practically had WS to ourselves.... and it was Food and Wine Festival! We had no lines to get food! Although a couple places closed up for those couple hours! Then.... We went into all the shops we've never stopped at before! It was so great to spend the time looking around at all the different countries offerings! She even bought a purse from Morocco that she absolutely loves! We just put on our ponchos to go from one pavilion/country to another! It really was the best day we ever spent at Epcot!!!

 

[SgtTibbs]

Last fall when DD and I got caught in World Showcase during a huge rain storm..... it ended up the best day!!

Now I'm checking the weather forecast hoping to find rain. Long, hard, crowd clearing rain. Bring it on Mother Nature!

 

[otten]

What do you do during a trip that gets heavy rain? We are here now and got hit with a POURING thunderstorm that killed our evening in the park. The next few days call for thunderstorms in the early afternoon. What do you do if it rains? Tomorrow we have a pool day, we can hopefully get some swimming in the first half. But what is there to do if it gets washed out the second part of the day?
We are staying at the Poly. Thanks!

You make the most of it.

We were at Disney World for Hurricane Matthew last fall. We were even able to make the most of that, enjoyed an almost deserted AK the day of the earlier closure and met characters in the lobby after the storm. Sure it wasn't what we had planned but it didn't ruin our trip and now it's a good story.

Get some ponchos and some shoes that are still comfortable when wet and enjoy it.

 

[otten]

Yep.

It's a reason we haven't gone to wdw during those months. I remember well visiting my family during college (mom remarried and moved to Miami as I left for college) and every single day for an hour it just poured.



Well I do have to say...Florida rain isn't something everyone gets. Thunderstorms aren't normal for every region. If there's a thunderstorm at home I cower indoors.






For both you and north of mouse, this is a decision you are making. You could do what others do and just figure it out and be happy. This is weather. It's weather that can be expected. It's weather that is talked about. Even if the soecicifs of the system are somewhat odd like someone mentioned above, people here have talked about oddities in weather and what to do for forever, like the nasty cold snaps in Dec, Jan, and Feb. Or May a few years ago when people thought it was never going to stop raining. Or this drought where all fires were banned, which is rotten for campers and those wanting to do the s'mores activities.

Unless there's a hurricane centered over Orlando you have choices. And I say this as a whiny person who resists change, but whose first Orlando trip was in December 2010 with a cold snap that hit nearly a week into it (the weather channel didn't anticipate it so we had not packed correctly and were budgeted to the bone and couldn't buy much to help). The one day we sat in the hotel and moped was rotten. And we did it to ourselves. People all around us were putting on their grownup hats and just getting on with it and being happy, but not us. Even the day we rode Flight of the Hippogriff 14 times in a row (thanks, kid) when the weather was in the 20s that early morning (brrr) was better than sitting around the lobby. And I promise I don't ride roller coasters at home when it's that cold lol.

I really agree with all of this. If you are going to feel like your vacation is going to be ruined by weather, maybe Orlando with its somewhat unpredictable weather isn't a great choice. No one can control the weather. You can control your attitude which is how even a hurricane didn't ruin our last WDW vacation.

 

[Minnesota!]

Go bowling, play in the arcade, monorail loop, go to the spa, afternoon nap with thunderstorms in the distance (best naps I have ever had were at Disney during storms..), go see a movie at DS, find a resort to visit that has some cool (indoor) activities..

 

[1st*toright]

Yep- we will be there in a couple of days. DH looked at the weather forecast, went to Amazon and bought waterproof phone bag lanyards for everyone in the family. Ponchos were already packed. I think we're ready to roll...

 

[ELLH]

If your daughter is anything like mine then the rain will be an added bonus.

As others have said, just plan appropriately. Obviously the parents need to worry about the electronics (phones, camera, autograph book, etc) and a change of clothes but otherwise go out and enjoy it. My wife packs Ziploc bags on each vacation for this reason and for Splash Mountain. Put the phones/autograph book in the Ziploc bag, put the bag in her purse, poncho over us all and... go play.

For what it's worth we were just there on Wednesday and experienced the rain you (the OP) were talking about. During the afternoon we were literally hoping for the thunderstorms to come (and they did, big time). We drove to MK and were able to park up front (no CM's were there to monitor parking). DD6 was dressed up in her Belle outfit, glitter and all. She wore a poncho over the dress to protect it. Once we had dinner at BOG we went and enjoyed the parks. The crowds were lessened thanks to the rain. And the rain let up shortly after we got in to MK. Wound up working out quite well.

This is one instance where I'm happy for the magic bands. You don't have to take your wallet/purse. You can just go out and enjoy. If you're the kind of family that can go out without needing a phone or a camera or the other things most parents of little ones take then it's even easier.


And finally... one way to look at the rain is: I'd rather be soaked from the rain than soaked from all the sweat. lol